Cousins Subs facts for kids
 |
|
|
Trade name
|
Cousins Subs |
|---|---|
| Private | |
| Industry | Sandwich shop Franchising |
| Genre | Fast casual |
| Founded | 1972 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Founders | Bill Specht James Sheppard |
| Headquarters | Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin |
|
Number of locations
|
100+ as of October 2019[update] |
|
Area served
|
|
|
Key people
|
Christine Specht-Palmert CEO Jason Westhoff President |
| Products | Sandwiches Salads Other food products |
Cousins Subs is a popular American sandwich shop. It has almost 100 locations, mostly in Wisconsin and Indiana. Two cousins, Bill Specht and Jim Sheppard, started the company in 1972.
Contents
The Story of Cousins Subs
Cousins Subs began in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1972. The founders, Bill Specht and James Sheppard, were cousins. They had moved from New Jersey and missed the tasty sub sandwiches they used to eat there.
They decided to open their own sandwich shop. Their first store was in Milwaukee, at 60th Street and Silver Spring Drive.
To make their sandwiches special, they worked with a local baker. Together, they created their own unique bread. This led to their famous slogan: "Better Bread, Better Subs." Many of their first customers were people who had also moved from the East Coast.
Growing and Changing
In 2009, Cousins Subs decided to focus more on local communities. During a tough economic time, they closed over 40 stores. This helped them focus on making sure their food was top quality.
In 2013, Cousins Subs started The Make It Better Foundation. This group helps improve communities. They focus on health, fighting hunger, and supporting youth education.
Christine Specht-Palmert, who is Bill Specht's daughter, became the CEO in 2015. Her father retired that same year.
New Look and Partnerships
Cousins Subs updated its brand in 2016. They planned to open more stores across the Midwest. They also remodeled all their locations to have a similar look and feel. This included new designs for their stores, logo, packaging, and uniforms. They also added digital features inside their shops.
To help promote their brand, Cousins Subs partnered with several sports teams. These included the Milwaukee Bucks, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, Green Bay Packers, and Wisconsin Badgers.
As of October 2019, there were about 100 Cousins Subs locations. These were found in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana. The company continues to open new stores with franchise partners.
Expanding to New Cities
In August 2018, Cousins Subs announced plans to open 40 new locations in the Chicago area by 2025. By July 2021, six stores had opened in Chicago. However, all of these Chicago locations have since closed.
Also in 2018, Cousins Subs planned to return to the Twin Cities area of Minnesota. They had closed stores there in 2015. The idea was to open about six stores each year. However, as of August 2021, no new stores had opened in Minnesota.
More About Sandwiches
